Chapter 3 — Barbecued Meteorite Bird
Three days after leaving the village.
"So that's Äußerst, huh."
Stark shaded his eyes and gazed into the distance. At the center of a vast lake, the vague silhouette of a magnificent city slowly came into view.
"We're still pretty far out. Let's hitch a ride on a carriage along the way."
Frieren said flatly, carrying her suitcase.
Lain and the others soon caught a carriage heading toward Äußerst. Along the way, Frieren took a short nap with her head on Fern's lap, but because she could only see half the sky from that angle, she soon sat back up.
Half a day later, the carriage entered Äußerst.
"Let's go register at the Magic Association first."
Frieren finally seemed to perk up a little and led the group toward the Association's northern branch.
The Magic Association building was a majestic structure made of enormous white stone. The receptionist was a bespectacled young woman. After registering Lain and Fern, Frieren nearly failed to register because the only credential she had was an "Ancient Champion" certificate. Fortunately, an old geezer recognized the antique, and Frieren was allowed to complete her registration.
After registering, the four of them went to the library to look up information.
---
Two months later, the First-Class Mage Examination began.
Upon entering the main hall, they were greeted by a dense crowd of people.
Lain's gaze swept across the room, spotting many familiar faces—Laufen, Kanne, Übel, and others.
A middle-aged man in an Association uniform with a stern expression stepped onto the platform. His voice echoed throughout the hall via magical amplification.
"I am one of the examiners for this test—Genau."
The hall fell instantly silent.
"I hereby announce that the First-Class Mage Selection Exam officially begins."
Genau's face remained expressionless.
"There are fifty-eight examinees in this exam."
He paused, his sharp eyes scanning everyone present.
"The first round will be a team battle. You will form groups of three. There will be only one group of four, but don't think that's unfair—the extra person is merely a Fifth-Class Mage, just tagging along. Now, we will distribute bracelets used to identify teammates."
Association staff began handing out silver bracelets to the examinees, each engraved with a small number.
"The bracelets are numbered from 1 to 19,"
Genau continued. "By injecting magic into them, you can sense the approximate direction of teammates who have the same number."
Lain accepted his bracelet and glanced at the number — 13.
He infused a trace of mana into it. The bracelet warmed slightly, and soon he sensed the locations of his teammates.
Two were very close, on the other side of the hall. The third was a bit farther away.
He raised his head, his gaze cutting through the crowd and locking onto a specific direction.
There stood an elderly man with brown hair and beard, wearing a monocle over his left eye, calmly looking back at him—Denken.
Beside the old man stood a somewhat vacant-looking young female mage, wearing a blue high-slit dress, her hair tied in a bun with side bangs. It was Laufen.
Denken and his "granddaughter."
Of course, not by blood—just a meme back on Blue Star.
The last teammate was a bearded middle-aged man—Richter.
Lain straightened his collar and walked over.
"Looks like we're on the same team."
He spoke calmly as he stopped in front of Denken.
Denken's gaze lingered briefly on the twin swords at Lain's waist before he stroked his beard.
"This old man is Denken."
"Lain."
Lain nodded.
He knew Denken was a court mage, at least quasi–first-class in strength—and also a devoted romantic.
The bun-haired girl beside Denken leaned forward, smiling innocently.
"My name is Laufen! Nice to meet you!"
"Richter."
The bearded middle-aged man also nodded, his expression somewhat aloof.
Examiner Genau stepped onto the platform once more, his cold gaze sweeping across the nineteen newly formed teams.
"The exam site is the Grobe Basin north of the Association. The basin is covered by a powerful barrier—you cannot enter or leave from the outside. I will now take everyone to the basin entrance."
---
The group arrived at a designated area near the basin entrance, where assistants distributed specially made birdcages to each team.
"Your objective is to capture a 'Meteorite Bird' before sunset tomorrow and bring it back here. All team members must return safely…"
After finishing the explanation of the rules, Genau announced:
"Begin."
Each team immediately sprang into action.
"Do you know anything about the Meteorite Bird?"
Richter asked the others.
Lain looked up and pointed toward a treetop where a Meteorite Bird had been perched.
"I only know that it's sensitive to mana, and—"
Before he could finish—
Whoosh!
The Meteorite Bird shot past the treetops at a terrifying speed, leaving behind only a cascade of leaves shaken loose by the sonic boom.
"So fast!"
Laufen cried out in surprise, raising a hand to shield her eyes as she tried to track it—only to lose sight of it instantly.
Richter's expression turned grim.
"Looks like this won't be easy."
Denken stroked his brown beard, his expression unchanged, seemingly deep in thought.
Just then—
"Well, um, I'm not very good at catching birds, and I don't really know any useful magic."
Lain spread his hands, his expression utterly sincere.
"I'll wait for you all in the safe zone not far from the examiners, and welcome you back in triumph."
Richter frowned in dissatisfaction.
A freeloader trying to coast through the First-Class Mage Exam? And not even bothering to pretend otherwise?
Laufen tilted her head, asking innocently,
"Eh? But this is a team battle. If Mr. Lain doesn't come with us and we fail to catch it, what then?"
Lain smiled.
"I believe in you."
Following the normal storyline, you'll definitely succeed. And even if something goes wrong, I'll step in.
Denken's cloudy eyes stared deeply at Lain. Then he smiled meaningfully.
"No matter. Young people having their own ideas is a good thing."
He turned to the other two.
"Let's go."
"Grandpa?" Laufen hesitated.
"Let's go," Denken said firmly.
Though confused, Laufen obediently followed. She kept glancing back, worry written all over her face.
"But what if something happens to Mr. Lain? Wouldn't we lose? The rules say all team members must be present."
Denken didn't stop walking. He merely replied calmly,
"Don't worry, Laufen. In this basin, there are no more than three people who could kill him."
At those words, Laufen and Richter both whipped their heads around, staring at Lain's slender figure in disbelief.
Three people? Including the examiners?
This man who looked so harmless… actually possessed such terrifying strength?
Lain watched the three of them depart, the smile on his face slowly fading.
Using magic to catch the bird was far too inefficient.
The most efficient way to capture a Meteorite Bird was to first empty one's mana.
He raised his hand and casually released several basic defensive and offensive spells into the empty wilderness. The faint mana fluctuations rippled through the air, quickly draining his reserves.
"Alright. Mana depleted. Now the Meteorite Bird won't be able to sense me."
The next instant—
The Hero's physique was pushed to its absolute limit.
The world transformed in his perception. Every particle of dust drifting through the air, even the subtle changes in high-altitude air currents, appeared with crystal clarity in his mind.
He lifted his head, locking onto a rapidly moving figure high above.
The Meteorite Bird.
He could even see the tiny sparks produced as its feathers rubbed against the air with each flap of its wings.
"Found you."
A slight smile curved Lain's lips. He bent his knees, lowering his body like a leopard about to pounce.
Boom!
The ground beneath him shattered as his figure blurred into a shadow, launching skyward at a speed surpassing sound itself.
High above, the Meteorite Bird seemed to sense danger—but it was too late.
A hand clamped precisely around its neck. The overwhelming force instantly ended all resistance.
Lain's figure traced a graceful arc through the air before landing lightly on the ground, a completely subdued Meteorite Bird dangling from his hand.
The entire process took less than three seconds.
"Wonder how it tastes."
He weighed the bird in his hand, already considering how to pass the time.
---
Meanwhile, atop a high ridge within the basin.
Examiner Genau and Denken were seated at a tea table, leisurely drinking tea.
"There seem to be quite a few promising candidates this year,"
Genau said, lifting his teacup, his expression serious.
Denken nodded expressionlessly.
Suddenly, a strange aroma drifted over.
"What's that smell?"
Genau frowned.
Denken sniffed the air, his tone flat.
"Seems like… roasted meat."